Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  To evaluate progressive shifts, indices (SDGs) and ranking indicators were used to assess the results achieved in comparison to average global figures.

The research was based on the analysis of key indicators characterizing trends in providing clean energy: changes in the share of the population with access to electricity, clean fuels and technologies, the share of renewable energy sources (RES), energy efficiency, carbon intensity, and more.

For reference: Based on the scoring values, the analyzed countries (over 180) were ranked into three groups according to their level of achievement of SDG 7:

- Group 1 (high level) - from 85 to 100 points

- Group 2 (medium/moderately high level) - from 56 to 85 points

- Group 3 (low level) - from 22 to 55 points

The analysis results showed that Uzbekistan is in the group of countries with a level of clean energy use above average, scoring 68.5 points (the average global score is 64.2 points).

Uzbekistan’s position in the global ranking is the result of measures to improve electricity provision and positive growth in energy efficiency indicators and investments in the energy supply system, particularly noticeable in recent years.

Population: Significant progress has been made in providing the population with electricity. As a result of the measures taken, the duration of electricity outages over the past five years has decreased threefold. Previously, until 2018, there were instances of outages lasting 6 hours or more; currently, only short-term interruptions lasting from 10 minutes to 2 hours are observed, along with a reduction in the total number of outages.

Energy Efficiency: From 2018 to 2023, energy efficiency in the economy improved by an average of 5-6% annually, largely due to the active introduction of renewable energy capacities. By 2023, the total installed capacity of RES exceeded the level of 2018 by 49%. Over the past three years, the generation of clean energy (RES) increased by 1.5 times, with a rising share in the overall generation structure from 7.1% to 9.7%.

Investment: Investments in a wide range of renewable energy technologies and electrification programs have significantly increased. The share of investments in the energy supply system within the total volume of fixed capital investment in the economy rose from 5.3% in 2020 to 12.2% in 2023. As a result, the country’s total energy capacity increased by 1.3 times compared to the level of 2018. These factors contributed to the growth of production potential and expanded opportunities to meet the electricity demand from the population.

The noted progress in access to clean energy for the population was accompanied by positive shifts in the structure of republican electricity consumption. The volume of electricity consumption by the population increased by 31.2% in absolute terms from 2018 to 2023. The share of the population in the total consumption structure rose from 21.7% to 23%.

The challenges of ensuring sustainable energy supply for a growing population and Uzbekistan’s entry into the group of countries with high access to clean energy remain significant priorities in the ongoing socio-economic reforms. Addressing these challenges will require further encouragement of productive use of renewable energy and implementation of a balanced policy for developing energy capacities.